Sam Amick drops a bit of his bombshell in the latest update to this unfolding saga.
In the 24 hours following the Sacramento Kings' dismissal of head coach Michael Malone, only one thing is abundantly clear. Malone and the Kings' management did not see eye to eye on many elements of roster construction. Early reports on Monday highlighted the Kings' penchant for pushing new and exotic ideas, and particularly the meddling influence of owner Vivek Ranadivé. Now, in an update published late Monday evening, Sam Amick is delivering the other side of the story, emphasis mine.
From Malone's reluctance to endorse the offering of contract extensions for DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay to his preference that departed point guard Isaiah Thomas was re-signed in free agency to the pursuit of a new lead assistant coach during the summer, there were disagreements about personnel and style of play at every turn that brought them all to this tipping point.
(Tip of the cap to Aaron Bruski, who brought this to my attention)
It's perhaps a bit easier to understand the reluctance to extend DeMarcus Cousins, as Malone hadn't really worked with Cousins at all at the time the extension was signed. And it certainly seemed that Cousins and Malone built a strong relationship during their time together. But Rudy Gay? An emerging theory is that the Kings waited to fire Malone until after Gay was extended, since Gay was such a fan of his coach. That Malone apparently wasn't on board is a real shocker.
Over the next few days we're likely to continue seeing various reports painting all of the involved parties in a negative light. There will be truth to most of these accounts, but keep in mind that the sources of various reporters are pushing their respective agendas. Look at reports with a an eye on who benefits, collect all the anecdotes, and then remember that at the end of the day the truth likely falls somewhere in the middle of it all.